New York Mets at Washington Nationals – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (May 21, 2026)

Washington has pulled itself to exactly .500 at 25-25, riding a two-game winning streak and carrying momentum into the final game of a four-game set against New York. The Nationals have already shown they can beat this Mets team — they took the last two games of a late-April series against New York, and earlier in this very series James Wood delivered the kind of play that stops a ballpark cold: an inside-the-park grand slam, the first in the majors since 2022, as Washington erased a five-run deficit to win 9-6. Wood leads the club with 13 home runs and 43 runs scored, and he has been the most electric presence in this lineup.

The Mets arrive at 21-28, having dropped two straight, but their recent body of work is more complicated than the record suggests. Six wins in their last ten games, including a series victory over the Yankees, reflects a team with genuine offensive weapons. Juan Soto has nine home runs, Jared Young was hitting .350 before landing on the injured list with a knee issue, and Freddy Peralta has been the rotation’s most reliable arm with a 3.31 ERA and 54 strikeouts. Cade Cavalli takes the ball for Washington against a Mets starter yet to be named.

New York Mets at Washington Nationals Game Information

Game Date: May 21, 2026
Game Time: 04:05 PM ET
TV Channel: SportsNet NY, Washington Nationals, and MLB.TV – Washington Nationals
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

This is the finale of a four-game series, with the teams entering the day split at one game apiece. Washington holds a meaningful edge in the standings — at .500, the Nationals sit 9 games back in the division, while the Mets are 12.5 out at 21-28. A series win here would give Washington consecutive series victories over New York and reinforce that this club belongs in the conversation. For the Mets, dropping three of four to a division rival would deepen an already difficult position in the NL East.

Washington Nationals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 25-25
Home Record: 10-15
Away Record: 15-10
Division Record: 11-8
Streak: 2 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .500

New York Mets Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 21-28
Home Record: 11-13
Away Record: 10-15
Division Record: 3-6
Streak: 2 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .429

Stat Leaders

Washington Nationals (25-25, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: CJ Abrams, 0.300
RBI Leader: CJ Abrams, 42 RBI
Home Run Leader: James Wood, 13 HR
Runs Leader: James Wood, 43 Runs
Hits Leader: CJ Abrams, 54 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Nasim Nuñez, 21 SB
ERA Leader: Orlando Ribalta, 2.00 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Foster Griffin, 54 K
Wins Leader: Foster Griffin, 5 W
Saves Leader: Gus Varland, 4 SV

New York Mets (21-28, #5 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Jared Young, 0.350
RBI Leader: Bo Bichette, 25 RBI
Home Run Leader: Juan Soto, 9 HR
Runs Leader: Carson Benge, 25 Runs
Hits Leader: Bo Bichette, 45 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Carson Benge, 8 SB
ERA Leader: Brooks Raley, 1.47 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Nolan McLean, 69 K
Wins Leader: Clay Holmes, 4 W
Saves Leader: Devin Williams, 6 SV

What to Watch For

Cade Cavalli carries a 4.05 ERA and 52 strikeouts into the finale, and Washington will need him to provide length after a bullpen that has been leaned on throughout this series. PJ Poulin has been one of the more reliable arms out of the Washington pen, posting a 2.91 ERA with 3 wins and 2 saves, and Orlando Ribalta’s 2.00 ERA gives manager Dave Martinez options in high-leverage situations.

For the Mets, the injury report has thinned the roster considerably. Francisco Lindor is on the 10-day IL with a calf injury, Francisco Alvarez is out with a knee issue, and Kodai Senga is sidelined with a lumbar condition. That creates opportunity for players like Brett Baty, who has 21 RBI and 3 home runs, and Mark Vientos, who has contributed 6 home runs and 22 RBI. Marcus Semien has been a steady presence with 40 hits and 5 stolen bases, and his experience in close games gives New York a dependable bat in the middle of the order when the lineup needs steadying.

Washington Nationals Injury Report

DJ Herz – Elbow (D60) – The Washington Nationals placed LHP DJ Herz on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Cole Henry – Shoulder (D15) – The Washington Nationals placed RHP Cole Henry on the 15-day injured list with right rotator cuff strain.
Josiah Gray – Elbow (D60) – The Washington Nationals placed RHP Josiah Gray on the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain.
Ken Waldichuk – Forearm (D60) – The Washington Nationals transferred LHP Ken Waldichuk from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with left forearm tightness.
Trevor Williams – Elbow (D60) – The Washington Nationals placed RHP Trevor Williams on the 60-day injured list due to a right elbow sprain.
Max Kranick – Elbow (D15) – The Washington Nationals placed RHP Max Kranick on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow injury.

New York Mets Injury Report

Kodai Senga – Spinal Lumbar (D15) – The New York Mets placed RHP Kodai Senga on the 15-day injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation.
Jorge Polanco – Wrist (D10) – The New York Mets placed INF Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list due to a right wrist contusion.
Luis Robert Jr. – Back (D10) – The New York Mets placed OF Luis Robert on the 10-day injured list with lumbar spine disc herniation.
Ronny Mauricio – Thumb (D10) – The New York Mets placed INF Ronny Mauricio on the 10-day injured list.
Francisco Alvarez – Knee (D10) – The New York Mets placed C Francisco Alvarez on the 10-day injured list with a right meniscus tear.
Dedniel Núñez – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Dedniel Núñez on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from his second career Tommy John surgery.
Tylor Megill – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Tylor Megill on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow injury.
Justin Hagenman – Rib (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list due to a rib fracture.
Francisco Lindor – Calf (D10) – The New York Mets placed INF Francisco Lindor on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain.
Clay Holmes – Fibula (D60) – The New York Mets transferred RHP Clay Holmes from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to his right fibula fracture.
A.J. Minter – Lat (D60) – The New York Mets transferred LHP A.J. Minter from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to left lat surgery.
Reed Garrett – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Reed Garrett on the 60-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.
Jared Young – Knee (D10) – The New York Mets placed OF Jared Young on the 10-day injured list with a left meniscus tear.

Washington Nationals Upcoming 2026 Schedule

May 21, 2026 vs New York Mets
May 22, 2026 at Atlanta Braves
May 23, 2026 at Atlanta Braves
May 24, 2026 at Atlanta Braves
May 25, 2026 at Cleveland Guardians
May 26, 2026 at Cleveland Guardians
May 27, 2026 at Cleveland Guardians
May 29, 2026 vs San Diego Padres
May 30, 2026 vs San Diego Padres
May 31, 2026 vs San Diego Padres

New York Mets Upcoming 2026 Schedule

May 21, 2026 at Washington Nationals
May 22, 2026 at Miami Marlins
May 23, 2026 at Miami Marlins
May 24, 2026 at Miami Marlins
May 25, 2026 vs Cincinnati Reds
May 26, 2026 vs Cincinnati Reds
May 27, 2026 vs Cincinnati Reds
May 29, 2026 vs Miami Marlins
May 30, 2026 vs Miami Marlins
May 31, 2026 vs Miami Marlins

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.